Plastic is frequently used to make medical devices because it's strong, durable, and easily sanitized. However, some types of plastic work better than others for medical equipment. Here are a few of the most frequently used plastics in medical device manufacturing.

4 Types of Plastic Used to Manufacture Medical Equipment

1.  Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate can withstand high temperatures, making it ideal for medical equipment that must be sanitized and disinfected in steam-based systems. The material can also be easily molded into different shapes, so it's often used to make labels, signs, and control panels in medical facilities.

2. Nylon

Nylon is a lightweight plastic that’s highly resistant to wear, tear, corrosion, and abrasion. It’s often used to make tubing for a range of medical equipment, including feeding tube pumps, peristaltic pumps, and dialysis machines. It’s also an excellent electrical insulator, which is why nylon-based coatings are frequently applied to electrosurgical tools, such as forceps and sphincterotomes.

3. Polystyrene

Due to its high level of transparency, this plastic is frequently used to make medical equipment that requires visual inspections, such as culture trays, test tubes, Petri dishes, and test-kit housings. Polystyrene is also suitable for medical device manufacturing because of its stiffness and chemical resistance that allow it to hold a wide range of chemical materials.

4. Acrylic

Acrylic is likewise frequently used to make clear medical equipment because of its high level of transparency. It’s also a strong material that manufacturers often rely on to make implant items, such as bone cement, intraocular lens implants, and cranial implants.

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